I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/25/23

Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

It is always sad to see a restaurant closing, but also exciting when another is opening. So, yes, I was excited to visit Lemongrass, a Vietnamese restaurant that replaced City Lobster who was removed from these premises because of unpaid rent. At Lemongrass, you order at the counter and have a choice between summer rolls, rice plates, vermicelli plates, banh mi and Pho. I tried the first four, ditching the Pho for a cooler season!

The banh mi was for me the best of the dishes: the soft but slightly crispy baguette was hiding a delicious pickled carrot and radish mix that is also served in the rice and vermicelli plates giving a nice acidity, cucumber, jalapeño (just a few), lots of cilantro and some Vietnamese ham and a pork patty, topped with mayonnaise. Flavorful and comforting, the pork can be replaced by tofu, chicken or marinated flank steak. I am not sure i would try the marinated flank steak banh mi as I had it in the rice plate and thought that it was too tough.

Marinated flank steak at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

The vermicelli plate is good, coming with very similar items as the banh mi: cucumber, jalapeño, pickled carrot and radish mix, cilantro and lettuce, accompanied by Vietnamese dressing, with either tofu, chicken or marinated flank steak.

Vermicelli plate with tofu at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

A lighter option is their summer rolls: it is a serving of three and you can mix and match shrimp, pork or tofu that is great so you do not get just one protein. Served with a nice peanut sauce, they were good, although missing a bit of flavor and that crunch that Bon Banh, further downtown hoboken has.

Summer rolls at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Shrimp summer roll at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Tofu summer roll at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Last are the beverages. They propose bubble tea but, every time we went, they did not have any bubble (tapioca pearls). Not that I mind because my primary objective is to get a Thai tea, but they may want to just ditch the concept if they cannot offer it.

Thai iced tea at Lemongrass in Hoboken, NJ

Overall, I am mixed. Lemongrass has good options and less good ones, with a menu that, except the banh mi, I will not crave. However, I am waiting for the colder days to try their Pho as, with Phonomenon now closed, they are the only one offering this Vietnamese soup in Hoboken.

Enjoy (…)!

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Lemongrass - 732 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/14/23

Thai cuisine at Zoob Zib in NYC, NY

There are lots of Thai restaurants in New York, with few standing out: Zoob Zib is one of them. We went few times and it was always packed. What makes this place special: simply good food, from the classic pad see ew (Jodi ordered that dish every single time) to the chicken massaman curry (this is a sort of test dish for me - if they do not make a good massaman curry, this is a bad sign). But there are two things people should try there: their roasted duck and their noodles, that you can combine in a soup but I admit that it is not something I would order in the summer! Their duck Thai cashew nut is sublime: the roasted duck is perfectly cooked, not dry, with a delightfully crispy skin, hidden under pieces of bell peppers, baby corn, onion, carrot, cashew nuts and pineapple for some added sweetness that complemented the slight heat from the chili paste. But I would not pass on the curry Cantonese noodles that I had with their « combo » that is chicken, shrimp and squid. These noodles were sauteed in a wok with egg, curry powder and chili paste, mixed with onion, carrot, baby corn, cabbage and scallion. Flavorful, with a nice bite, I literally inhaled that dish!

Chicken Massaman curry at Zoob Zib in NYC, NY

Duck Thay cashew nut at Zoob Zib in NYC, NY

Curry Cantonese noodles at Zoob Zib in NYC, NY

In term of appetizers, they have the classics like spring rolls or the chive pancake that was deliciously pillowy, as well as the tofu summer rolls that Jodi loved, but that was just ok for me.

I should mention their drinks, where of course you can get a Thai iced tea but also some cocktails. The one I tried was the Lychee martini that was well balanced and really showcase lychee.

And last is dessert. Their mango sticky rice is a must have: the mango was perfectly ripe and the sticky rice, that has a texture I love, was drench with a nice amount of coconut milk. Delicious!

Mango sticky rice at Zoob Zib in NYC, NY

Now, I guess you understand why I became a fan of Zoob Zib. The food there is simply fantastic.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Zoom Zib - 460 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018

I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/11/23

Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Do you remember Carnegie Deli and its opulent dishes ? Little did I know that the owner of the regretted delicatessen owns a location in Edison, NJ named Harold’s NY Deli. Entering the place, you know that everything is big there, just by looking at the giant cakes with slices probably three times what a 24 layer cake in a steakhouse would be. Or the Lintzer tart that, with its 7oz, could feed an entire family…

Dining room at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

The dining room is quite large, overlooking the kitchen where you see giant dishes coming out, wondering who would be able to eat all of this, maybe the host of Man vs Food, or if it is to share. In the back is their pickle bar, a pretty unique fixture not to be missed where you can get many type of pickles: sour, half-sour or kosher. Interesting considering that pickles are a must have in a Jewish deli.

Pickle bar at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Pickles at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Looking at the menu can be overwhelming, with sometimes the only indication of the portion being the price. Root beer floats, milkshakes and sundaes are to share, same as the giant ice cream soda (32oz) that I got all for myself. I ordered it with Coca Cola and vanilla ice cream, a combination I prefer to the root beer float as I find the two flavors work better together.

Ice cream soda at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

For deli sandwiches, they offer three sizes: junior (1 person), large (2 to 3 persons - can be fine for 4) and X-Large (5 to 8 persons). I got the soft salami in the junior size that was quite filling, especially after that ice cream soda…I smeared some mustard on the rye bread and ate it with a very good cole slaw that came with it. My in-laws shared the large corned beef that was quite impressive and my niece, Rayna, got the hot dog from the kid’s menu that was probably a foot long putting the two pieces together.

Salami at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Corned beef at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Hot dog at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Jodi got herself a grilled cheese with Munster that did not look so big but had lots of cheese in it, as if the bread was just there to hold it together! We also shared some fries that were ok for me as I am not a big fan of steak fries, and some delicious onion rings that were nicely crispy.

Grilled cheese at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

Onion rings at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

French fries at Harold's NY Deli in Edison, NJ

After such a meal, forget about dessert and have a walk to digest! I love the food there, but I am always a bit bothered by the large quantities that call for a bit of waste, unless you take the food home of course.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Harold’s NY Deli - 1173 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ 08837

I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/7/23

Effin Egg in NYC, NY

We were looking for a place to eat near the Flatiron when we stumbled upon Effin Egg, a small joint serving breakfast all day. The main option on the menu is egg sandwiches and I admit that their selection is mouth watering, each of them prepared in various ways, although if you prefer a simple one, they have the Effin Boring that is simply made with scrambled eggs and cheddar, squeezed in a brioche bun. We decided to try their CEO, that is composed of scrambled eggs, chives, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and their signature chipotle Effy Sauce in a warm brioche bun. Good, messy with all that sauce dripping all over the bun, slightly spicy, I found it pretty good! Know that when you order a sandwich, you get a free iced coffee that they roast in small batches.

CEO Egg sandwich at Effin Egg in NYC, NY

We also wanted to try their biscuit that is freshly baked and came with their house made cinnamon honey butter, that not only was frozen, but they did not even have a knife to spread it. When I asked for a knife, they could have at least lent us a small one from the kitchen. Anyway, the biscuit was not great, missing the crunchy outside and having too much baking soda in it.

The Lil b*tch waffle was no better: topped with powdered sugar and whipped butter, it was flappy, lacking the chewiness of a good waffle and simply not just meh.

We also wanted to try their Effin tots, which are tater tots topped with melted cheese and avocado crema, that we asked without bacon. Unfortunately, there was too much cheese sauce on it (I never thought I would ever say that!) and everything was soggy.

So, overall, the meal was disappointing. If I were to go back to Effin Egg, it would be for the sandwiches, nothing else.

Enjoy (…)!

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Effin Egg - 38 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/23 I Just Want To Eat! 9/5/23

Barbounia in NYC, NY

Barbounia has been around for years, but, each time I was planning to go, I changed plans. Not sure why, because this place, that serves Mediterranean cuisine proposes some fantastic food. It was so good that, after going for brunch, we decided to go back for dinner. Here is what we had:

Let’s start with the brunch. To start we got their fire-roasted…

Let’s start with the brunch. To start we got their fire-roasted eggplant that was sitting on green tahini, and topped with marinated Japanese eggplant and zchug, a cilantro sauce that is a common Middle-Eastern condiment. It came with their flatbread that was phenomenal, so good, that I could not stop eating it, keeping a bit for the main I ordered that was shashouka merguez. Every family has its own version of shashouka, some with just tomatoes like at Barbounia, my family with tomatoes and peppers, and sometimes, it can also be spicy (it was the case there). I appreciated the fact that there were 3 baked eggs on it, but wish they put one more homemade lamb sausage (merguez). Still, this was a delicious dish. Jodi on her side got their Greek salad and added some falafel that were very good, not dry and deliciously crispy. I should mention that it was a bit pricey as the salad was $22 and the falafel added $10, so, $32 for a salad is a bit much…

Fire roasted eggplant at Barbounia in NYC, NY

Bread and fire-roasted eggplant at Barbounia in NYC, NY

Shashouka merguez at Barbounia in NYC, NY

Greek salad with falafel at Barbounia in NYC, NY

We finished our meal with some coffee, tea and a dessert called a Lebanese Osmalieh that was made with semolina custard, covered with a crispy kataifi, orange blossom syrup and served pistachio ice cream. Simply superb.

Lebanese osmalieh at Barbounia in NYC, NY

So, after such lunch, we decided to go back for dinner. I started off with a cocktail, the Portokali that was made with scotch, orange marmalade, lemon and rose water. quite refreshing on a sunny evening. We then shared the Crispy Moroccan spinach cigar. I admit that I was not sure what we would get as I am not always a fan of spinach in a dish, but this was delicious, very tasty with hints of mint in it.

Crispy Moroccan Spinach cigar at Barbounia in NYC, NY

For her entree, Jodi chose their Wild mushroom flatbread that was made with lots of cheese, namely Taleggio and fresh Mozzarella, as well as basil, and a perfect amount of black truffle-labneh sauce. On my side, it was hard to pick as they had so many mouth watering dishes. I finally decided to try their Lamb Kofta Kebab "Terracotta" that was ground lamb full of flavor as blended with spices, cooked in a flatbread dome with tomato confit, charred red onions, tahini and pine nuts. The presentation was outstanding and the first bite divine! I could simply not stop eating it, using the charred flatbread as a vehicle to grab both the meat and the sauce. This is a must have.

Lamb Kofta Terracota at Barbounia in NYC, NY

Of course we could not leave without dessert! We chose the warm ricotta beignets that were sublime, soft, airy and crispy on the outside, served with berries and milk chocolate sauce. I admit that I did not care much about the sauces as these beignets stood on their own.

Warm ricotta beignets at Barbounia in NYC, NY

Overall, our meals at Barbounia were amazing and I just cannot wait to go back there! If you love Mediterranean cuisine, this is definitely a place to try.

Enjoy (I really did)!

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Barbounia - 250 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/31/23

New Opening - 7th Street Burger in Hoboken

7th Street Burger is a burger joint that reminds me a bit of Corner Bistro with its minimalist menu that is composed of 4 options: cheeseburger, single or double, or Impossible burger, also single or double, except that Corner Bistro has more to offer when it comes to drinks. Still, this place that started in the East Village back in 2021 and has now more than 10 locations, decided to open one in the Mile Square City, just a few blocks from Shake Shack, that is quite courageous.

With a very minimalist decor to say the least, the place is not big with just a small counter near the entrance where you can stand to eat your burger. After you order, it takes approximately 7 minutes for your meal to be ready. I got their double cheeseburger with crispy fries. As I removed the food from the paper bag it came in, I definitely could feel that it was straight from the fryer (for the fries) and grill as it was very hot. The cheeseburger, made with American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and their secret sauce was wrapped in paper. Unwrapping it was a bit of a mess: the notion of smashed burger normally related to the patty, but, in this case, it was the entire burger, bun included, with the bottom of the bun being a bit soggy with all the sauce all over. Messy to eat, it was still good, the meat tasting really good and being perfectly cooked, but missing the char that I like to get at Shake Shack. For sure, I cannot complain about the amount of meat vs. bun as it was in favor of the latter and I loved the added crunch from the pickles that added a bit of acidity to it. The crispy fries were also good, and crispy as advertised, from the double frying.

Overall, it was good but I admit that if I wanted a smashed burger, I would go to Shake Shack as I prefer theirs and could also order a milkshake that is a must have for me with a cheeseburger. But this is my own preference…And by the way, do not try to find them on 7th and Washington: they are a bit lower, on 4th!

Enjoy (I still did)!

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7th Street Burger - 410 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030

I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/28/23

Brunch at Winberie's in Summit, NJ

We were recently in Berkeley Highs to see my niece, Rayna, perform in a school show, and so decided to grab lunch with the family. That is how we discovered Winberie’s in nearby Summit. This all American restaurant proposes a large menu that I admit made me hesitate a bit, but I finally settled for the chicken and waffles, a southern dish that I adore for its interesting combination of sweet and savory, crispy and soft. The chicken was really good: crispy, it was moist and most importantly, cooked all the way through. It sat on a waffle that was soft and chewy, with a slight crisp.

Chicken and waffle at Winberies’ in Summit, NJ

Jodi went for their mushroom flatbread that was proposed in the appetizer section, but was large enough to be offered as an entree. The flatbread was pretty good with lots of cheese (fontina and ricotta), that smothered the garlic roasted cremini mushrooms. I should mention the use of truffle oil that was just the right amount, not overpowering the dish at all.

They also propose a bunch of mouthwatering dessert and their butter cake, served warm with vanilla ice cream and strawberries, and topped with cookie crumble was superb. A must have.

The brunch at Winberie’s was pretty good: this is the perfect spot if you are in that area.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Winberie’s - 2 Kent Pl Blvd, Summit, NJ 07901

I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/24/23

Brunch at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

I love Blu On The Hudson and it has become my favorite brunch spot. Located on the waterfront in Weehawken, Blu On The Hudson serves an exciting menu. Let’s start with their cocktails that are very creative, I think the one that blew me away was their breakfast martini that is made with whisky: not only did it taste good, but the presentation with the focaccia and orange marmalade stuck on the side gave a certain dimension to it. I also tried:

The Not a Guiness, that I got for dinner also, made with black sesame vodka, chocolate stout and espresso liqueur.
The oil on the skin that is made with Aperol, strawberry, grapefruit and Prosecco.
The Mediterranean seaside, composed of gin, mint, thyme and watermelon.

If you do not want a cocktail, you can opt for a tea, theirs being from Le Palais des Thes, a well known French purveyor of tea.

Oil on the skin cocktail at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Mediterranean seaside at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Breakfast martini at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Tea and Not a Guiness cocktail at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

For dishes, they have classics like pancakes, like their banana foster pancakes that are fluffy, as well as avocado toast or scrambled eggs that are cooked with smoked salmon, chives and served on a toasted croissant. I loved this dish: the croissant was flakey and buttery, the eggs were moist and, unlike what I had in the past with similar dishes, it did not have that overly salty flavor that smoked salmon can sometimes bring when cooked. But one of my favorite is their steak and egg: two sunny side up eggs served with a 6oz filet mignon that was perfectly cooked medium-rare and juicy. It came with homemade tater tots that were delicious and made me want to eat more. Another favorite is their lobster roll. Smothered in warm butter, the perfectly cooked lobster is served on a toasted roll, accompanied with a salad and waffle fries. You can also get lobster as a roll, as they also offer sushi on their menu and I have to admit that their Blu roll that is composed of bluefin tuna, spicy lobster and avocado is exquisite.

Smoked salmon scrambled eggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Smoked salmon scrambled aggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Lobster roll at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Steak and eggs at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

The Blu Roll at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

There is also a plenty of vegetarian dishes: I mentioned the pancakes and their banana foster pancake stack is very good, the fluffy pancakes being perfect to share. An interesting one if the Blue’s Way, that has a Mediterranean touch with the delicious halloumi cheese that is served with scrambled eggs, tomato, tzatziki and a homemade fluffy pita. Jodi loves their vegan Cobb salad that I admit is quite good and looks appetizing. It is composed of tomato, quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, corn and vegan feta and does not look like an afterthought. They also have a vegan sticky bun that we wanted to try, but they did not have any that day…

Halloumi at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Vegan Cobb salad at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

Banana foster pancakes at Blu on The Hudson in Weehawken, NJ

The menu at Blu On The Hudson is more than this and we still have some time to try everything. The food there is superb whether for brunch or dinner. So, yes, I am a big fan!

Enjoy (I really did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Blu On The Hudson - 1200 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ 07086

I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/21/23

Crazy food at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Tony Boloney’s is not your typical pizza and sub place: their menu is probably what your cardiologist would NOT recommend. Known for its taco pizza that I did not get a chance to try, it is the right place for food decadence. Want a lobster roll? Theirs, the Lobsta Trap, is made with steamed lobster, aioli and bayou butter. Nothing too unusual you would say. Well, they lay the lobster on a bed of fresh and smoked mozzarella (lots of it)! This is not for the faint of the heart and you better get a bunch of napkins because it is very messy to eat, but so good. I thought that with all these ingredients the lobster would be overshadowed, but it was not the case. With the perfectly cooked lobster, each bite was a festival of flavor and worked well together, making it one of my favorite lobster rolls.

The Lobsta trap at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Their version of cheesesteak, the Ole sub was also something: it is made with mezcal marinated ribeye mixed with fried onions, lettuce, tomato, cilantro and Mexican string cheese, drenched in chipotle sauce. A bit different from the original and also quite messy to eat, it is spectacular.

The Ole sub at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

I should mention that these subs are big, so not need to order anything else and, for some of them, like the Ole, they propose a vegan version. If you are vegetarian or vegan, they have also salads, like the pueblito that can be made with mushrooms rather than chicken or steak (it has romaine, spicy mole and pickled jalapeño crema dressing- you can get a different dressing if you do not eat spicy-, roasted corn, black beans, grape tomatoes, string cheese, tortilla chips and smashed avocado) or the Tuk-Tuk salad with satay cauliflower, romaine, green papaya slaw, cilantro and roasted peanuts. Know that their menu changes from time to time and I do not think they have this one anymore, but it gives you an idea.

Tuk Tuk salad at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

The Pueblito salad at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Their pizza is also quite phenomenal with slices starting at $6. My favorite is the Burrrrrata, where each slice has a whole burrata that is siting on vodka sauce and made with dry aged mozzarella (I did not know it was a thing), pecorino, basil and chili oil (this is not spicy). Then, I love their Ay Dios Mio Mac that is their version of Mexican Mac and cheese pizza, made with chipotle Mac and cheese, dry aged mozzarella, queso Oaxaca string cheese and cilantro. I wish it was creamier, but still, this is really good. We also tried their magic mushroom as Jodi loves mushrooms and I thought at first that I loved it, the nice portion of cremini mushrooms being well prepared (I hate when sometimes it is undercooked from a can), and with lots of cheese (fresh and dry aged mozzarella), but the truffle cream was overpowering and coated my mouth. Overall, the pizza crust is crispy, with a nice char, but for sure the pizza can be a bit greasy that is fine by me.

Burrata pizza at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Magic mushroom pizza at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

Ay Dios mío Mac at Tony Boloney’s in Hoboken, NJ

So, for sure, Tony Boloney’s is unusual and the kind of place where you want to indulge in food that is comforting, but crazy. I definitely recommend it!
Enjoy (I did)!
If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!
Tony Boloney’s -

I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/17/23

Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

Left Bank Burger Bar is, as its name indicates, a burger joint in Jersey City, few steps from the Grove Street path station that serves some incredible burgers. We were there few times and have never been disappointed, the burgers being delicious and creative. The only negative would be the fact that they do not serve milk shakes, that I love with a good burger, but that’s…

We only went for lunch so I do not know what the atmosphere would be in the evening, but, at noon, it is fairly quiet, with some good music playing in the background, not too loud fortunately!

They have appetizers, like fried pickles that were good, crispy and not soggy or greasy, but we mostly went straight to their burgers. Jodi built her own, made with black beans, that I admit was a pretty good patty, tasty and not mushy like some would serve. She had it with or without bun, with a bunch of toppings you can pick (cheese, pickles, etc).

Fried pickles at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

Veggie burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

On my side, I tried few of their creations. The first one was their M.A.C Daddy, their version of Mac and cheese burger with bacon. Decadent, it was very comforting. When you bit in it, you get the crunchiness of the fried Mac and cheese, the smokiness of the bacon and the delicious taste of their beef patty that was juicy and perfectly cooked medium.

Mac Daddy burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

The second one of their Meltdown, that is a grilled cheese burger. Made with challah bread, grilled onion and cheese, the beef patty was so juicy that I needed extra napkins…It was quite good, even if I thought that the grilled cheese portion would be two grilled cheeses with a patty in the middle, that would truly be a hangover cure.

Grilled cheese burger at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

I also wanted to try their fried chicken sandwich, the hot honey chicken as they call it, made with pickles, bacon, spicy slaw and hot honey. This was a very good fried chicken sandwich, sweet and savory, with some crunch from the pickles and bacon, the former giving a nice acidity, and the latter some smokiness to a good version of what is a must have on restaurant menus nowadays. However, I thought it would be spicier and it was not.

Fried chicken sandwich at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

For sides, I prefer their onion rings over their fries, that you can definitely tell are frozen.

Onion rings at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

French fries at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

They have limited desserts, although, after a burger you may prefer a walk…However, the deep fried honey bun is a must have: crispy on the outside that tasted a bit like funnel cake, delightfully soft on the inside, the sweetness of the honey balanced by the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. This decadent dessert is proof that anything can be fried.

Deep fried honey bun at Left Bank Burger Bar in Jersey City

There is so much more to discover at Left Bank: the burgers there are really good and they have exciting creations. But for people more classic, or not, you can build your own, that can make each visit different.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Left Bank - 194 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/14/23

ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

I have known Aba Turkish Restaurant for years and have never been disappointed with this place. The food there is tasty and comforting with a large menu offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, the former being as inviting as the others. After a great dinner in June, I wanted to go back there, but it was closed because of a fire in the kitchen. They will hopefully reopen quickly! At least, here is a glimpse of what we had:…

Skipping the appetizers, I went for their combo that was composed of chicken shish kebab, lamb shish kebab, lamb chop, chicken and meatball, accompanied by rice and red cabbage. I love when a restaurant offers a sampler so you can try many dishes at once and I was not disappointed. Of course, as I love lamb, this was perfect, especially the lamb chop that was succulent. But I should mention the chicken that was surprisingly moist. In fact all the meat was perfectly cooked, moist, juicy, and very flavorful.

Combo at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Jodi got a falafel platter that was also nice, the falafel being perfectly made and not dry, having a long rather than the usual spherical shape.

Falafel platter at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

For dessert, we had their kunefe that they offer in two portion sizes. It was so good that I regretted going with the smaller portion…if you never had kunefe, it is made with kataifi that is a spun pastry that has a nice crunch, that is layered with cheese and soaked in a sugar syrup. That dessert is amazing and very addictive. I wished by the way that Trader Joe’s would have it again! We had the kunefe with a Turkish tea for Jodi and a Turkish coffee for me.

Turkish tea at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Turkish coffee at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

Knife at ABA Turkish Restaurant in New York City

So, now I hope you understand why I wanted to go back to Aba! I Hope to go back soon!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Aba Turkish Restaurant -325 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/10/23

9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

We were walking in Hell’s Kitchen, looking for a place for brunch, when we stumbled upon this small restaurant, tucked between two busy places. The menu being enticing, we decided to try it. This is how we discovered 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery. Opened at the end of 2016, this place serves a wide array of Mediterranean dishes: pizza, pasta, seafood, etc. With the option to order from their brunch menu that had classics like waffles or eggs Benedict elevated with lobster, or regular menu.

I started by ordering a pear Bellini, this fruit being too often ignored but being delicious when ripe in drinks, salads or eaten as a snack. The Bellini was good but I could barely taste the pear.

Pear bellini at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

We then ordered a bunch of plates, some from their tapas section. Their pan seared halloumi was superb, topped with honeycomb and orange marmalade. That is a dish I would order each time I would be there.

Pan seared halloumi at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Then was their Mediterranean mussels, clams and merguez, a lamb sausage that can have a nice kick. Sautéed with fresh tomatoes and cilantro, this was delicious, a twist on surf and turf in a way that worked, the lamb sausage giving an even bolder taste to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and I could not stop dipping bread into that fantastic sauce.

Mussels, clams and merguez at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Next was mortadella with walnuts and bread. I love the sweet and buttery taste of this thin cured pork salami.

Mortadella at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Besides the halloumi, Jodi and I shared the tricolore salad that was made with arugula, endive, radicchio, toasted almond and lots of goat cheese.

Tricolore salad at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

Of course we could not leave without dessert and opted for their tres leches flan that was made with whole, evaporated and condensed milk. Nicely made and not too sweet thanks to the whole and evaporated milk that lowered the sweetness of the condensed milk, it was a great way to end the meal.

Tres leches flan at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery in Hell's Kitchen

I was quite pleased with our meal at 9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery. This place is a hidden gem in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen and I cannot wait to go back there for dinner.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

9th Avenue Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery - 856 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/7/23

Khe-Yo in Tribeca

It’s been a while since we went to Khe-Yo, the restaurant of Chef Marc Forgione located in Tribeca. The first and last time we went there, we had great food, but the music was so loud that we just wanted to eat quickly and leave. So, we decided to go back for lunch, as I was off during a weekday and sat outside, enjoying the nice weather…and the quiet.

We started our meal with some drinks and both got their lychee soda that was house made with lychee puree and sparking water. I loved it: refreshing, I love lychee and wish it was more served in restaurants.

Then we shared several vegetarian dishes. The first one was their sticky rice and sauces. Think about it like it is bread with olive oil or butter. I love the taste and texture of this glutinous rice, dipped or smothered by sauces. The eggplant sauce was like a spread, delicious and reminding me of a Mediterranean spread in fact. The bang bang sauce was very spicy, but so good, I went back to it, even if my mouth was on fire.

Sticky rice and sauces at Khe-Yo in Tribeca

The second appetizer was their crispy Brussels sprouts, served with a chili caramel sauce that gave a nice sweetness and decadence to the crispy vegetables. Superb!

Crispy brussels sprouts at Khe-Yo in Tribeca

We then decided to share their mushroom banh mi. This was delicious: the bread was slighly crispy and the hen of the woods had that nice bite and earthiness, complemented well by the acidity of the pickled carrots and the slight spiciness of the sriracha mayo. A must have and I am sure that their non-vegetarian ones are as exquisite.

We did not have dessert as we had other plans and left satisfied after an exciting and flavorful meal. Dinner might not be my thing because of the noise level, but I would certainly go back to Khe-Yo for lunch.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Khe-Yo - 157 Duane St, New York, NY 10013

I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/23 I Just Want To Eat! 8/3/23

Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Dim Sum Palace is not unknown to me, having dined at this place multiple times, trying some of their small fried or steamed dishes. It is always exciting to go there, marking with a pen on their menu your selection, sometimes probably going overboard as you want to try plenty of things, similar to what would happen in a tapas restaurant.

Menu at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

We always order classics like the scallion pancakes that are crispy and slightly greasy, or the vegetable spring roll that are perfectly made and usually burn your mouth and fingers if you grab them right away. The one I am always looking forward to eat is the crystal shrimp dumplings that are superb: the sticky shell has the perfect thickness and the shrimp is the star of the dish. Another delicious dim sum is their shredded roasted duck that is the right dish if, like me you love duck. Jodi tried their soy bean dumplings that were a good vegetarian option, different from the classic veggie dumpling.

Scallion pancakes at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Vegetable spring rolls at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Soy beans dumplings at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Shredded roasted duck at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Crystal shrimp dumplings at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

I also tried their salt and pepper jumbo shrimp that were succulent, the large shrimp being perfectly cooked.

Salt and pepper shrimp at Dim Sum Palace in the Theater District, NY

Of course we could not leave without dessert and a must have is their sweet egg yolk bun. I was so excited that I completely forgot to take a photo, instead taking a video that shows the yummy center of these fluffy buns that is delightfully sweet and creamy. A must have, even if you might burn your fingers when eating them…

Dim Sum Palace is a great place that is expanding throughout New York. It is nice to have such delicious Dim Sum restaurant outside of Chinatown that serves a fairly large menu, including other types of dishes if you are not into dumplings.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Dim Sum Palace - 334 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/31/23

Il Gradino on the Upper East Side

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Have you ever been to a restaurant and, after seeing their menu, wish that you could order all of it? Or if one single ingredient could be changed, you would order that dish? It happened to me multiple times. But that problem is resolved at Il Gradino, “the step” in English, an Italian restaurant located on the Upper East Side that opened in May 2022. There, owner Diego Argudo, a veteran of the restaurant industry, decided to implement the concept of piacere (pleasure, enjoyment in Italian) that is interpreted that as “preparing the dishes your way”. Diego explained to me that he want to people to feel welcome and at home, and the restaurant is ready to accommodate any request that would be prepared with products sourced daily, everything being made there, from the pasta to the dessert. There is no eggplant parmesan on the menu but you would love to eat that today? Not a problem. But he is pushing the concept even further: there are several appetizers or pasta you would like to try? Again, not a problem: they will serve you smaller portion of each, making it a sampler that I often regret is not on a menu. The menu on their website is small compared to what you can get at Il Gradino, because on top of that, they have many specials. Listening to the waiter was a bit overwhelming as they had so much to offer, each special being described precisely and made me thinking that I should have worn stretch pants for the occasion! Here is what we had:

For cocktails, Jodi had a virgin mojito, while I settled for an espresso martini. I admit that I would have liked a more Italian cocktail like an Aperol Spritz, but they apparently did not have any. We ate some bread that came with some antipasti, the star being the zucchini that was cooked with garlic (I wish I had the recipe and no, there was the right amount of garlic), as well as the pieces of parmesan cheese that is definitely a cheese that should not be ignored and is more than just something that goes on pasta.

Espresso martini at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Then, we decided to have a sampler of appetizers, but the owner, treated us with full size dishes! the first one was crispy artichokes, a special, that were not fried but cooked in their oven and served with a tomato and bean salad. This is the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why artichoke is not that popular (I used to eat lots of artichokes when I was a kid in France, cooked and raw, depending of the dish). Another special was the zucchini flower beignets that were also stuffed with prosciutto: I loved it! It has been so long since I had zucchini flower beignets, the last time being in Nice, South of France, a city known for it, to the point that people selling them on the farmers’market yell at tourists who cannot resist taking a photo of these blossoms. Next was calamari. So, this is where I had a choice on how it would be made and I decided to have them grilled. Calamari is difficult to prepare because if you do not do it well, it can be rubbery. Not at Il Gradino: there, it was superb, simple, with just a drizzle of garlic sauce. The last appetizer I tried was their mussels and clams in marinara sauce or “cozze e vongole Posillipo”, a must have if you like shellfish, with a marinara sauce that had a robust flavor that made me want to dip bread in it (I stopped because of what was coming).

Crispy artichokes at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Zucchini flower beignets at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Grilled calamari at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Mussels and clams at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

For the entrees, we decided to sample their pasta, not imagining the quantity of food we would get in quite large plates that seem more appropriate in a family style restaurant. Jodi went with two specials: linguine with mushrooms that were made with three kinds: porcini, shiitake and portobello and cooked with tomato and asparagus. Good and comforting, her favorite was her second choice: mushroom ravioli with cream. The ravioli were fantastic: with enough filling inside, the shell was thin, the cream not too heavy, with just the right amount of truffle, so the mushrooms remained the center of the dish.

Mushroom pasta and ravioli at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Mushroom ravioli at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

On my side, I went for my classic linguine alle vongole with white sauce, but also wanted to try their bucatini all’Amatriciana where these thick pasta are smothered with a mix of pork and a robust tomato sauce. and finally one more dish, the third was their linguini fruit di mare that was made with mussels, calamari, shrimp, scallop, clams in a red sauce. In all the dishes, the house made pasta were perfectly cooked al dente. My favorite was the vongole with its delicious white wine sauce. The frutti di mare, with a generous portion of seafood was quite good, at the exception of the scallop that I did not like, maybe because of the way they cooked it. As far as the All’Amatriciana, I was close to digging further into that succulent dish, but I remembered that I wanted to try dessert.

Linguini alle vongole at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Linguini frutti di mare at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

Bucatini all’amatriciana at Il Gradino in NYC, NY

And so, we did try dessert, although we started to get full. Their cannoli was quite good, but my favorite was the tiramisu that was well balanced between the coffee soaked lady fingers and the mascarpone cream. They also brought us some biscotti that I ate with my espresso, thinking about my aunt Claudine who is the queen of biscotti in my family.

Needless to say that we needed a walk after that feast at Il Gradino: this place is truly a hidden gem that I would definitely recommend to people who are looking for a true Italian experience and love Italian cuisine. The piacere concept is quite unique and a good way to discover dishes from all the regions of Italy.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Il Gradino - 808 Lexington Ave #2, New York, NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/27/23

L'Appart, a unique French experience in NYC, NY

Short for l’appartment, L’Appart is a hidden restaurant located in The District, a French marketplace located few steps from the World Trade Center. We discovered this place few years ago and could not wait to go back for our anniversary. With 28 seats and an open kitchen overlooking the spacious dining room, this place proposes a unique experience where the term hospitality meets its true meaning: from the moment you enter to the moment you dine, you not only feel welcome, you also feel special.

Chef de cuisine Antoine Boulay and Chef Anthony Mateu at L’Appart in NYC, NY

There, Chef de cuisine Antoine Boulay crafted a seasonal menu with a 9 course tasting that changes on a regular basis. Jodi, being vegetarian, did not feel left out and I should mention that they charged a lower price for her meal as proteins like squab, salmon or caviar were not served. We went to many nice restaurants and it is not often that this happens unfortunately.

We started off our meal with a cocktail. Jodi got a virgin martini that was refreshing, while I had some chartreuse, having seen on the menu that they use this sublime liquor for their dessert. Well, I did not imagine that they would serve me a large quantity of the yellow nectar, that lasted my entire meal, sipping it slowly to enjoy its aroma and herbal flavor.

We then started with a snack that was an english pea soup served over a brunoise of smoked salmon and topped with Calvin pea tendrils and mint. Jodi got the same without the salmon.

English pea soup and smoked salmon at L’Appart in NYC, NY

The canapés was an interesting dish as one of the components was their interpretation of a classic that we used to eat in my house: radis-beurre, where you simply put butter on radishes (as much butter as you want). The presentation was outstanding as it looked like their put the radishes in dirt that was in fact burnt bread. It was accompanied, for me, by a rillette of confit tuna and their version of carbonara pasta composed of a paccheri pasta that has been fried and puffed, topped with pecorino Romano cream and chopped guanciale. Jodi got the same but meatless.

This was followed by the caviar course that was their take on a tartare, but with the egg replaced by caviar from Petrossian. The veal was imported from the Limousin region in France, finely diced and topped with Migmag olive oil, a Spanish oil with limited production, and topped with the caviar and some sourdough toast. Instead of veal, Jodi got cucumber and no caviar. This dish was prepared table side, the maître D giving us lots of information about the origin off the products among other things.

So, this was before the appetizer, believe it or not! The first appetizer was like a risotto, but where there would be rice, has been replaced by squid. Colorful, the squid was cooked in ink so it had this black color that constrasted with the red of the piquillo pepper coulis and the green of the parsley coulis. Jodi’s dish was made with cauliflower, decorated with the same coulis.

The next dish was just added on the menu and was one of our favorites: it was a porcini mushroom tart that had foie gras in its non-vegetarian version. This was like an explosion of flavors, nicely layered but working well together, the mushroom giving some earthiness to the dish and the foie gras, some luxurious richness.

Porcini mushroom tart at L’Appart in NYC, NY

At that point, they brought us some homemade bread (sourdough and olive) and butter that was so creamy that I could not stop eating it. The lavender butter was surprising, with the lavender not too overpowering, but my favorite was the piment d’espelette, a French pepper from the Basque region in France.

Piment d’espelette at L’Appart in NYC, NY

After that was a scallop from the bay of Hokkaido in Japan that was pan seared, and served with a grilled zucchini and an aioli that was not made with eggs, but with potatoes as, as per the chef, this was the way it was originally made. Interesting indeed, far from tasting like mayo but quite good. The scallop was perfectly seared and the zucchini delicious with or without the aioli. Jodi had a vegetarian version of it, where the scallop was replaced by eggplant.

Eggplant and zucchini at L’Appart in NYC, NY

Next was a squab, served with Swiss char and black truffle, lots of it. This was superb: the squab was perfectly roasted, not dry, with a slightly crispy skin. Even with all that truffle, this was the star of the dish, replaced for Jodi by English peas that added a nice color and bite.

Of course, you cannot have a French meal without cheese, so the country bread and the Kalamata olive bread was the perfect accompaniment for the goat cheese from Vermont that they served us with honey and black truffle.

To clean our palate, we had a pre-dessert made with apricot three ways: sorbet, mousse and poached. Refreshing and delicious.

Apricot pre-dessert at L’Appart in NYC, NY

Then was the dessert, a meringue with rhubarb and chartreuse. Fantastic as delicate and not too sweet, with a beautiful presentation.

As we thought we were done, they brought us some chocolate macarons in a nice setting for our anniversary: a card with the menu and a photo that they took earlier supposedly as a tradition. And then, with the bill presented in their guest book, where we left a message, came some chocolate covered corn flakes and coconut called « rose des sables » because of their shape. This was a nice touch, but I admit that I was full at that point!

I am still a fan of L’Appart: this is a true hidden gem that for me deserves more accolades from the industry and should get back its Michelin star if not have two. Everything there, from the staff, the atmosphere and the food, make it an incredible gastronomic voyage to France, even if the dishes are not classic but reinvented.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

L’Appart - 225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281

I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/24/23

David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Chef David Burke is not unknown to me as I ate in many of his restaurants in the city and saw him few times on TV in shows like Top Chef. So, when I was invited to try David Burke Tavern, I was really excited because I knew this would full of surprises. As we arrived, we went to the upstairs dining room and sat next to a penguin, not a real one of course: a stuffed animal. You might have heard that, during Covid, to ensure that patrons would respect social distancing, Chef Burke bought a bunch of stuffed animals that he sat at tables. The penguins were kept after that, sitting on each side of the cozy dining room. Then, we saw that plates were decorated with a strange logo that is both a nod to the New Yorker dressing up to go to town and one of the famous dishes from the Chef: lobster scrambled eggs with caviar served in an Ostrich egg.

David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

We started off our meal with cocktails: espresso martini for me and a Moroccan mojito for Jodi that was sans-alcohol, made with lemon verbena syrup, lime juice, club soda, mint and sage leaves. It was nice to see a nice selection of mocktails next to an interesting list of cocktails.

Moroccan mojito at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

There was no vegetarian appetizer that was a bit disappointing and the only option for Jodi would have been to get a salad, but it would have replaced her main dish selection. So, I was the only one with appetizers and decided to get the clothesline bacon, that is a popular dish that was all over social media few years ago where strips of bacon are hung on a clothesline, torched in the kitchen or at the table (ours was torched in the kitchen), so it releases fat onto the pickles that are underneath. You then cut the thick slices of bacon with a scissor, adding a bit of playfulness to the dish. It was good, although a bit chewy, making me think a bit about a jerky. This is definitely a dish perfect to share.

Clothesline bacon at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

The second appetizer was the crab cake pretzel raft. What a wonderful dish: the presentation is beautiful and it was delicious, the pretzel adding a bite to it as well as as a slight saltiness, with an amazing old bay tomato jam and chipotle aioli that still let the crab shine. A must have.

Crab cake pretzel raft at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Then came the entrees. Jodi went for their wild mushroom ravioli that was topped with parmesan, sage, walnuts, pomegranate and a chocolate balsamic. The ravioli was perfectly made, the shell having a perfect thickness, and the whole dish having this sweet and savory taste, each ingredient complementing each other rather than fighting against each other, the mushroom filling giving a nice earthiness to the dish and the pomegranate some bite.

Wild mushrooms ravioli at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Wild mushroom ravioli at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

On my side, I decided to try their rack of lamb. First of all, this was a large dish, with a generous portion of lamb that was perfectly cooked medium as ordered, juicy and deliciously fatty. When I saw the thickness of each piece, I understood the message they sent when bringing the knife that looked like a small meat cleaver! It was served with white beans and Swiss char, making it a very comforting dish. I did not regret my choice for sure, even if I am not a big fan of Swiss char. With it, I wanted to try their whipped potato with garlic confit that nice and light, but not as decadent as I thought, thinking that there would be some garlic confit that I adore on top of it.

Rack of lamb at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

Whipped potato at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

The whimsical lollipop tree dessert is a delightful creation that brings back childhood memories. Topped with a cotton candy that is made a la minute, it is composed of various types of lollipop cakes that you can cover with the cotton candy or with the bubble gum whipped cream that was amazing.

Lollipop tree at David Burke Tavern in NYC, NY

This was a great way to finish a delicious meal. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed when dining at one of David Burke’s restaurant: the food there is creative and fun, without sacrificing the quality of the products.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

David Bruke Tavern - 135 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065

I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/19/23

Boulangerie Le Fournil in NYC, NY

This post is a bit overdue and describes our experience as we were walking around New York and noticed Le Fournil, a French bakery that I could not resist trying. The experience started well, with a wonderful and appetizing smell filling our nose as we entered the place. We decided to get three of their baked goods: a chocolate croissant (pain au chocolat), a raisin swirl (pain aux raisins) and a sugar tart (tarte au sucre) that always makes me think about my father who loves it. We took it home and, after a little photo shoot, tried all of them. The only one we liked was the tarte au sucre that was pretty good, but we could not finish the chocolate croissant (that looked tiny by the way) or the pain aux raisins as they both had a weird taste, as if the butter used was paste.

That was disappointing as I was really looking forward to it. So, Le Fournil would not be my go to place for good French bakes for sure.

Enjoy (…)!

Le Fournil - 115 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/17/23

Lokal in Jersey City

It’s been a while since I have been to Lokal in Jersey City. Not that the food is not good, but there is so much to explore in Hoboken, Jersey City and New York that time passed before going back there. So, when I got an invite to try their new menu, I was thinking that it would be a good opportunity for a revisit. I did not regret it: the food at Lokal is not just exciting, it is overall good in a relaxed atmosphere, not too noisy (well, it will also depend on the neighboring tables of course), with a breathtaking view of the city.

Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

We started our meal by ordering some cocktails / mocktails. Jodi had a lychee mojito mocktail that was refreshing and quite original, lychee not being a fruit that is often used for cocktails, while I went for an espresso martini that was fortunately not served in a martini glass (I hate these glasses).

Lychee mojito mocktail at Lokal in Jersey City

Espresso martini at Lokal in Jersey City

The difficult part with their menu is that they have so many mouth watering plates to share that you would want to order all of them! We decided to share their charred cauliflower that were cooked with vadouvan spices that is an Indian blend typically made with onion, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds and fenugreek. I liked the rustic presentation and it was quite good, prompting me to think about how I used to hate cooked cauliflower when I was a kid… The second appetizer was their goat cheese croquettes that were made with goat cheese of course, potato and chickpea, laid on purple mustard that also served as a way for these little balls to stay in place on the plate. The croquettes were superb: crispy, not greasy, with a generous amount of cheese in it. I could have eaten another serving for sure.

Charred cauliflower at Lokal in Jersey City

Goat cheese croquettes at Lokal in Jersey City

For her main, Jodi got their margarita flatbread that was made with blistered cherry tomatoes, burrata and basil. I admit that it was ok for me, finding the crust to be a bit bland. Bland is not how I would describe my dish though! I got their rack of lamb that was crusted with goat cheese (again! Goat cheese must be on sale!), giving a mediterranean feel to the dish. This dish was delicious: the perfectly cooked lamb was served with haricots verts and harisa roasted potatoes that were not spicy despite being cooked with harisa. I definitely recommend this dish if you like lamb.

Margarita flatbread at Lokal in Jersey City

Of course, we could not miss dessert. Their tiramisu was a bit of a let down, being a bit watery, that is a shame because I can still remember the tiramisu they used to serve that was very good. But the molten chocolate cake was superb: gooey in the center, it was very chocolatey, the vanilla ice cream complementing perfectly the richness of the chocolate. Another must have.

Chocolate molten cake at Lokal in Jersey City

Overall the food at Lokal was very good and exciting. It is worth the trip to Newport, knowing that it is 10 to 15 min walk along the river from the Newport path train stop.

Enjoy (I did)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Lokal - 2nd St Unit 101, Jersey City, NJ 07302

I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/23 I Just Want To Eat! 7/12/23

Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

We ended up at Auntie Guan’s Kitchen as we were looking for a place close to the Path train, and passed in front of this place that makes dumplings, quite a few times. Classic menu with spring rolls that were good, crispy, although the ratio shell to filling was in favor of the former, and the Dan Dan noodles not as good as what I had at Hao Noodle or even Cafe China that you could argue serve a bit more elevated Chinese cuisine. Still, it was just ok for me, lacking that spicy flavor that is so delicious that, although your mouth is on fire, makes you go back to it. We also tried their veggie dumplings that were too thick and bland, as well as their bean sprout, scrambled eggs and wood ear mushrooms that you wrap in a thin pancake. That was just ok, also a bit bland.

Vegetable spring rolls at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Dan dan noodles at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms and scrambled eggs at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Pancake at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

Veggie dumplings at Auntie Guan's Kitchen in NYC, NY

So, overall, the meal at Auntie Guan’s was very disappointing. At least we tried…

Enjoy (…)!

If you like this post, the photos or the blog, please feel free to share it or post a comment. Merci!

Auntie Guan’s Kitchen -108 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011